Nestle USA to move pizza operations, 250 jobs to Solon

Nestle USA is moving its Nestle Pizza Division to Solon from Northbrook, Ill., and is bringing 250 jobs with it, the company has announced.
“By moving Nestle Pizza to Ohio, we'll bring together terrific brands and powerful businesses that will create many more talent development opportunities for our Nestle employees,” Nestle USA chairman and CEO Paul Grimwood said in the release. “The decision also allows us to better manage our costs and to improve our efficiencies by operating as one Nestle with our retailers.”
The move is expected to be completed in mid-2014. Solon already is home to multiple Nestle divisions, including Nestle Prepared Foods and Nestle Baking. The company already employs about 2,500 in the city.
Employees in Northbrook were notified last week, and most will have the opportunity to relocate. Nestle executive John Carmichael will become president of the division on Jan. 1. On that date, the current president of the division, Paul Bakus, will become president of corporate affairs for Nestle in the market.
Roz O'Hearn, a spokeswoman for Nestle, said the 250 jobs coming to Solon will be created by the move and by expected growth in the division. About 150 employees work in that division now. Ms. O'Hearn said the employees from Illinois will visit Solon in November.
The company plans to use its existing facilities in Solon and does not plan to build a plant for the pizza division, Ms. O'Hearn said.
The division also will benefit from expanded research-and-development facilities in Solon, Nestle said. In June, the company announced plans to invest $53 million in a Product Technology Center focused on research around frozen and chilled foods. It should be operational in early 2015.
Mr. Grimwood, the CEO of Nestle USA, in the release praised the efforts of Gov. John Kasich, economic development organization JobsOhio and the city of Solon and thanked them for their support.
Nestle Pizza makes a variety of pizza brands, including DiGiorno, California Pizza Kitchen, Tombstone and Jack's. Nestle acquired the brands in the division from Kraft Foods in 2010.